Adjustable basketball system and method of use thereof

Abstract

An adjustable basketball system is provided. The system includes a sleeve positioned in a substantially vertical orientation with respect to a surface upon which the system rests. The system further includes a post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve to functionally engage the sleeve. The system further includes a basketball backboard coupled to a portion of the post not inserted within the sleeve, the basketball backboard further including the basketball rim. The system also includes an actuator that is functionally coupled to the sleeve and the post, wherein actuation of the actuator axially transitions the post with respect to the sleeve to reposition the backboard with respect to the surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A basketball system comprising:
 a rectilinear sleeve with a through bore having first end and a second end a rectilinear cross-section and a first end and a second end;   a rectilinear post with a through bore having a first end and a second end, the post configured to be inserted partially within the sleeve and to extend in and out of the sleeve;   four spacers, each spacer coupled directly to an inner surface of the sleeve, wherein each spacer extends from a top edge of the sleeve at least eighteen inches down the sleeve, and the spacers located between the post and the sleeve, and wherein the spacers engage the post on all four sides simultaneously on outer surfaces of the post to keep the axis of the post and the axis of the sleeve aligned;   a basketball backboard assembly coupled to a first end of the post; and   an electric linear actuator comprising an actuator rod and an actuator cylinder, the electric linear actuator located within the sleeve and the actuator cylinder is coupled directly to the sleeve with a connection member and the actuator rod is coupled directly to the post with a connection member, wherein actuation of the electric linear actuator axially transitions the post in and out of the sleeve to reposition a height of the backboard assembly, and wherein the spacers cooperate with each other to maintain the post and the sleeve in a coaxial relationship and to prevent rotation of the post as the post is raised and lowered in and out of sleeve during operation of the electric linear actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a control electrically coupled between the actuator and a power source, wherein the control comprises a switch, wherein the actuator operates in response to operation of the switch. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control for operating the actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a removable memory coupled to the input/output port for storing photos and video captured by the camera. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control comprises a power source. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the power source is one of AC power, a battery, a solar panel or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the backboard assembly comprises a backboard and a rim. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the four spacers are positioned on the sleeve such that each spacer engages two other spacers along the entire length of the spacer to form an inner perimeter smaller than the inner perimeter of the sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an entire length of each spacer engages only one exterior surface of the post.